Aerosol modelling and pressure drop simulation in a sieving electrostatic precipitator

• Main Authors: Telenta, M, Pasic, H, Alam, K, Alvarez, J T, Alvarez, I D, Lougedo, ST, Hevia, B G
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1746-4471
• DOI: 10.2495/MPF070011

This paper first describes so-called sieving electrostatic precipitator suitable for efficient and cost-effective cleaning of polluted gases of both large and ultra-fine particulates in a very broad temperature range. In SEP the particulate-laden gas is passed through a set of closely packed and charged fine-wire screens. In the last three years, a large number of fly ash collection-efficiency experiments have been conducted-first, on a bench-size unit both at room and elevated temperatures and, in a laboratory pilot-scale setting. Most recently, a consortium led by American Electric Power (AEP), Ohio University, Ohio Coal Development Office and PECO have built and started tests on a pilot slip-stream unit in AEP's plant in Conesville, Ohio. However, deeper understanding of SEP calls for numerical treatment of particulates charging, their agglomeration, and various particulate-capturing mechanisms (field and diffusion charging, interception by screen wires etc.) simultaneously taking place in laminar flow conditions. The paper describes our attempt to model this process.